Choosing your perfect tour type.We offer just about every type of adventure imaginable. Explore with other likeminded travellers on our organised group tours, alternatively try a private departure or talk to our tailormade team if you want more flexibility.

Explore the world with your family.Our Explore family adventure holidays are designed for families looking for a fun and memorable holiday, allowing you to explore exotic and unique destinations, with all of the logistics taken care of.

The one stop shop for all things special. Keep up to date with our latest special offers, promotions and incentives. Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about great new tours, competitions, special offers and other exclusive deals. Sign up now!

Welcome to Explore - The Adventure Travel Experts.Explore has been running small group responsible adventures for nearly 35 years so you can be confident that you are in safe hands. Browse to find out more about Explore, our staff, tour leaders and values.

Family Tour Of Egypt

Travel back in time with us to experience Egypt's amazing past; from the colossal Pyramids of Giza to the mysterious Valley of the Kings. Camel trek through the desert to St. Simeon's Monastery and cruise the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. Explore the colourful, vibrant markets and take an adventurous donkey trek through farmland and mud brick villages.

Tour Highlights

Luxor - Visit the impressive Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple complex

Itinerary

1

Join tour Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and check-in at the hotel. Cairo is a vibrant, exhilarating, fascinating and welcoming city. Home to the best Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic sites in Egypt, this city boasts a range of ancient monument that you can discover while wandering around. If you arrive early, you may wish to catch your first glimpse of the mighty Nile River, visit the capital's medieval markets at Khan El-Khalili or walk down the Nile promenade. There are also plenty of cinemas, theatres and modern shopping malls.

Overnight: Comfortable HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
None

2

Sightseeing in Cairo; overnight train to Aswan

Africa's largest capital, Cairo is situated mainly on the east bank of the Nile. This morning we drive to Giza to visit one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Pyramids, among the most impressive man-made spectacles in the world. Here, you can opt to venture inside a pyramid or admire the Solar Boat, designed to transport the Pharaoh's soul to the afterlife. The complex includes the Sphinx, a crouching lion with a human head carved from solid rock, and the splendid Granite Temple. In the afternoon, we visit the Egyptian Museum, which amongst its 100,000 artefacts contains the extraordinary treasures of Tutankhamun, complete with his Golden Mask. We may also have the opportunity to visit the Children's Museum located in the Egyptian Museum, where you could have the chance to build your own pyramid! Tonight we board the overnight train to Aswan.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

3

Arrive in Aswan; free afternoon; included Nubian dinner

Today we hope to arrive in Aswan by noon time where we will transfer directly to our hotel. We have left the afternoon free for you to settle into this exciting, bustling town; you might choose to visit the Nubian Museum or town souks. In the evening we plan a visit a riverside village where we dine with a Nubian family who have worked with Explore for many years.

Overnight: Comfortable HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

4

Optional visit to Abu Simbel; free afternoon in Aswan

Today we have the chance to visit the fabulous rock-hewn temple of Abu Simbel. Cut into the rock face, this enormous structure was raised 61 metres to save it from inundation by the artificial lake created by the Aswan High Dam. The 20 metre high statues represent Ramses II who was known as the Great Builder. Alternatively, you might wander the streets of Aswan which is situated on the east bank of the Nile, just below the first Cataract. The town is well known for a meeting point of Arab culture with Nubia and Black Africa and consequently the excellent souks reflect this fusion between Arab and African cultures. The afternoon is left free for your own family exploration, which might involve visiting the souks of Aswan or simply relaxing by the pool.

Overnight: Comfortable HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

5

Camel trek to St Simeon’s Monastery; board the Nile cruise boat

In the morning, we cross the river by motor launch and meet our camels for an exciting journey across the desert to the abandoned Coptic monastery of St Simeon, then return via a different route to the river. Around lunchtime we board our Nile cruise boat for a three day voyage down river to Luxor. During our cruise, we see the intensive cultivation of the Nile Valley (mainly sugarcane and maize) and at intermittent points are small villages which depend upon the river for their livelihood.

Overnight: Comfortable BoatSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6

Sail via Edfu Temple to Esna

We sail to the major settlement of Kom Ombo situated on the east bank of the Nile. Dating from the Ptolemaic period, the temple of Kom Ombo is unique in that it is dedicated to two gods. Both Horus and Sobek were worshipped; Sobek is the crocodile god - much needed at this spot as this stretch of the river was noted for crocodiles until early this century! We then sail to Edfu Temple, the largest Egyptian temple after Karnak. Edfu supposedly marks the position where the god Horus met and vanquished his father Osiris's murderer, Seth. The site dates from the time of the Ptolemies (3rd-1st century BC). A sacred falcon-headed god guards the Temple of Horus, which is in almost perfect condition. The temple is unusual in that the roof is still intact. We moor overnight at Esna.

Overnight: Comfortable BoatSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7

Sail towards Luxor; Karnak Temple visit

Early in the morning we pass through the lock in the dam at Esna which was built in 1906 to regulate the Nile floodwaters. From here, we sail on to Luxor and upon arrival we have the afternoon in Luxor with a trip to Karnak Temple. There are also optionals to visit Habu Temple, Workers Tombs, or perhaps the souk for find bargains for some souvenirs. In Luxor we will normally be accommodated on the west bank of the Nile, opposite the main city with a motorboat being available to transfer you across the river.

Overnight: Comfortable BoatSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

8

Visit Queen Hatshepsut Temple and the Valley of the Kings; free afternoon in Luxor

Rising very early this morning, we cross the Nile to enjoy a visit to the extraordinary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt's only female Pharaoh who usurped the throne from her son, the future Tuthmoses III. The scale of the temple and it's magnificent setting is breathtaking, but perhaps even more remarkable are the details - look out for the fine carving of the Expedition to the Land of Punt. We then take a bus ride to the Valley of the Kings to explore some of the more important sites made famous in 1922 by the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter. We visit three tombs. In the afternoon you are free to enjoy the historical city as you wish. This may involve some pool time or even an optional donkey ride through the villages and fields of the West Bank with a great view of the sun set over the Nile.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

9

Tour ends Luxor

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the Family Land Of The Pharaohs tour available at present.

Customer rating:Family Land Of The Pharaohs4.5 out of
5
based on
1 ratings.
Read reviews

Why Book this tour

The adventure brings what the kids have learnt about Egypt to life with visits to the Valley of the Kings, Pyramids, Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum where the famous Tutankhamun mask is housed. A great trip of discovery with time on a cruise boat that travels along the Nile and dinner with a local family. Perfect for families who are interested in ancient times and impressive monuments.